McConnell Praises Medal of Honor Recipient

Speaking on the Senate floor Thursday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., honored Kentucky-native Dakota Meyer, who will become the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in four decades. In 2009, Meyer ran into a firefight while serving in Afghanistan to search for ambushed U.S. soldiers and Afghan troops. Meyer asked his commanding officer for permission to help the stranded troops, but the officers said no. He disobeyed orders and helped retrieve their bodies.

McConnell says he’s proud Meyer is from the commonwealth and the entire country is grateful for his service.

“Every American can be proud of Sergeant Meyer, age 23, for his exceptional valor in combat in Afghanistan,” says McConnell. “And I am particularly proud that Sergeant Meyer is a Kentuckian. I’m honored that heroes like him come from the Bluegrass state.”

Meyer doesn’t think of himself as a hero, but McConnell says the entire country does.

Meyer returned to Kentucky last year after being discharged. He is now raising money for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and plans to pursue a business degree.

Meyer will receive the Medal of Honor from President Obama at a White House ceremony Thursday afternoon.